HTC has confirmed what we’ve all known for a little while now: it is launching a Windows Phone 8-based version of its flagship Android handset on the Verizon network in the US.

Announced today in a blog post, the phone will offer a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, 5-inch full HD display, 32GB of onboard storage (plus support for microSD cards up to 128GB), HTC’s ‘Ultrapixel’ camera and the Windows Phone 8.1.1 operating system with Cortana.

Despite having a new OS under-the-bonnet, HTC has also ported across its custom UI tweaks like BlinkFeed and features like Video Highlights.

Seemingly geared only at the US market for now, it’s available exclusively on the Verizon network for $99 (plus contract) from today online, and in-store from tomorrow.

It’s an interesting if not unexpected move – to offer multiple operating systems on essentially the same hardware – and it’ll be even more interesting if other device makers follow suit.